DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2016, 6 March 1890, Page 3

DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.

New Plymouth, March 3,

A strong south-east wind on Sunday fanned the smouldering bush fires into flitnes along the Mountain road and in tbe districts around New Plymouth, The wind increased to a gale on Sunday night, and caused great destruction to fences, and some honses and bridges are endangered. The town is gloomy with smoke and fiue ash carried over from the fires. The amount of damage cannot be estimated, but it is expected to exceed that of the Stratford fire. In several localities all means of communication are cut off. The loss in pasture, fences, and cattle is great, besides a considerable number of homesteads. A telegram was received by the mayor asking that assistance should be sent from New Plymouth to tbe homeless settlers at Egmont village. Expresses were at once sent to bring these to town. The Borough Council hold a special meeting to devise means of rendering aid. A settler and his wife are

missing, and fears are entertained for their safety. The fires extend from Stratford to Sentry Hill, the whole forest betwsen these two points, a distance of over thirty miles, being apparently in flames. Several country bridges have been burnt. A party of mountain climbers have arrived, and state that it was both difficult and dangerous to get through. Strenuous exertions are being made by the settlers to save their dwellings, and they are kept constantly at work battling with the flames.